Traction splint hitch



April 30, 1940. E. ELLIS TRACTIION SPLINT HITCH Filed March .'51, 193B 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. E D GHR E L L 6 ATTORNEY.

fm S1074 April4 30, 1940. E ELLls 2,198,908

TRAGTION SPLINIII HITCH Filed March 51, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDG/IR EL L I6 ATTORNEY.

April 30, 1940. E. ELLIS TRACTION SPLINT HITCH Filed March 51,- 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR m foam? ELL/6 MA SW ATTORNEY.

` practice to leg consisting of rigid elements disposed longitu- Patente-d Apr.. 3BG, 1940 lie-ems er.TENTv orifice;`

e 2,198,908 'rnAorroN srLiN'r' BITCH V. y Edgar Ellis, Lorain, Ohio Y Application March 31', 193s, `seri-a1 No. 199,166 f eoiaims. (o1. 12s-34) r This invention relates to splints `employed in supporting fractured bones, and more particularly to a traction type splint primarily adapted for emergency use and adjustable for'use on either `a fractured leg or arm of varying size and length.

AIt frequently happens that in transporting a person who has received a bone fracture from the scene of the accident that the injury is severely aggravated due to the bone fragments being jolted and it is commonly recommended that an injured person be not disturbed until competent help arrives. It has heretofore been common provide a splint for a broken armor dinally along the leg or arm and held in place by bandaging or similar material. However, va splint of this type tending torhold the fractured 'portions of the bone in alignment, does not effectively prevent relativemovement ofthe bone portions longitudinally of the splint,v vresulting in contact of the bone fractured portions and consequent aggravation ofthe injury.

It has also heretofore been proposed to provide splints commonly known -as traction splints wherein a rigid member is extended'outwardly beyond the fractured leg or` arm anda hitch is applied tothe wrist or ankle `to exert tension maintaining the fractured "portions of the bone inproper relation for knitting. However, prior splints of this type with which I am familiar -are intended to be applied at the hospital or the like and require considerable time to adjust in addition to requiring that the fractured member be suspended in such manner that a weight may hang from thesplint to exert proper tension.

lIt is extremely important thatv the fractured bone portionsbe maintained under tension during transportation to the hospital or the like but since in answeringa call to the scene of an acci# dent, it may be found thateither a leg or arm `is fractured and that the injured person may be either a child or an adult, a considerable number of splints would have Ito be stored in the ambulance to meet the varying conditions encountered.r Due to the other emergency equipment necessarily carried,' it is desirable that a minimum amount 'of vroom be requiredv for the storage of splints, in an ambulance.

I have devised a traction splint which is quickly .adjustable for adaptation to either a fractured arm or a fractured leg and which is suitable for either an adult or a child. I have further provided an improved, easily applied hitchfor securing to the wrist or ankle whereby the proper tension may be exerted on ,the fractured member.

employ;

hitch in appliedv position;

@melon t is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide an improved traction-type splint primarily adapted for .emergency use whentransporting `an injured party -toa hospital or the like.

Another objectof my invention is to provide an 5 improved traction-type splint which is adjustable to support Veither a fractured legor arm of an adultor achild.

Another objectof my inventionis to provide a traction splint .having improved hitch means for the ankle or wrist associated therewith.

Another objecty of my invention is to provide an 4improved traction splint having longitudinally extending support members adapted to. be maintained in alignment with the bone. of the larm or leg.

Another objectof my invention is tofprovide a splint o-f the 'above type which has no tendency 'to impart a twist to the fractured arm or leg. f, vOther objects of my invention andthe invention itself will become increasingly apparent from a consideration of the following description and 'drawings wherein: f

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my improved splintapplied to a leg; y 25 Fig. 2 is an elevational kView of the splint of Fig. 1 applied to' an arm;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the leg supporting splint of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the armsupportin-g splint of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of the splint of Fig. 4; l Fig. 6 is a section along line E-"S of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is a section along line l-'l of Fig. 4'; Fig. 8 is a section along line 3 8 of Fig;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of parts shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is asection along line lll-lll of Fig. 4*; Fig.A 11 is a fragmentary plan View of parts shown in Fig. 10; :i f

v Fig. 12 is a section along line l2-l2 of Fig. 4;

""Fg. 13 is a fragmentary rsection along line vliti3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. lll is a sideelevational view, partially in section, of parts illustrated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is avlplanv viewl of a hand hitch 1 may Fig. 16 is a pian viewer the hand hitch in ap- 50 plied position; y

Fig. 17'is asideelevational View of thelhand A Fig. 18 is a planvew of afoot hitch I lmay Fig. 19 is a plan view of the foot hitch in applied position and Fig. 20 is an elevational View of the foot hitch in applied position.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, I have shown my improved splint as comprising a pair of longitudinally adjustable members I0 and II, having a pad element I2 secured to each of said members at one end and at the opposite end the members are secured to a cross-bar I3. The crossbar I3 is preferably of tubular form and has a pair of rods I4 and I5 secured thereto by Welding or the like. The rods I4 and I5 are provided with transversely aligned perforations vvI-Sspaced longitudinally along the rod at distances-such as 4 inches. A pair of tubes I'I and I8 are telescoped over rods I4 and I-5,`the tubes '|17 and I8l also being provided with spaced perforations adapted to be aligned with perforations I6 in rods It and I5 whereby the tubes and the rods may be adjustably pin-connected.

I preferably employ a type of pin as illustrated in Figs.f8 and 9 wherein a pin I9 -is riveted to a pair of spring clips 20-20 and a reinforcing yoke 2l Thus the pin can be quickly projected through aligned perforations in the rods and tubes and locked by the spring clips 20 engaging the tube walls. To insure that the pins I9 will not become lost I preferably secure thereto one end of a wire or chain which may have its opposite end secured to the tube in any suitable manner.

The pad element I2 comprises a generally semicircular ring suitably padded, the ring ends being reduced wherebyl they may be projected through the perforated ends of a pair of pins 24 and flanged to pivotally engage pins 24 with the ring ends. Pins 24 `are circular in cross section and of a size Yto slide within tubes I'I and I8. Pivotally secured to pins 24 are pins 25 having substantially the same diameter as pins 24, the pins 25 being perforated as indicated at 26 whereby the element I2 may be secured to tubes I1 and I8 by projecting pins I9 through upper perforations 21 in the tubes, and perforations 26 of the pins.v

Element I2 will then project laterally from the members I0 and II, and member I0 is `preferably adjusted when supporting a fractured leg to a greater length than member II whereby the padded member I2 maybe comfortably adjusted to theinner side of the leg'at the'upper extremity and secured by a strap 28 which encircles pad element I2 and the upper part of the leg, the strap 28 preferably being provided with a friction `type buckle for accurate adjustment. Strap 28 maybe secured to pad element I2 by winding the pad material therearound.

Slideably mounted on one of the tubes, such as tube I'I, are a plurality of straps 29 lhaving preferably friction type buckles whereby the leg may be strapped to members I0 and II at spaced points for support. Any suitable means may be employed for mounting straps V29 on tube IB-but, as best illustrated in Figs. l0 and 11, I preferably provide a loop 30 at one end of the 'strap permitting the Vstrap to be telescoped over the tube and slid 'therealong Straps 29 when supporting an arm or leg are brought over tube I8 or rod I5 and around the tube or rod prior to passing over the top part of the leg or arm for buckling so that a supporting loop around tube I8 or rod I5 for the strap portion engaging the lower part of the armor leg is effected. The

buckles associatedwith straps 29'are generally indicated at 3| and may be of any conventional form comprising a rectangular frame with a slideable friction cross-bar. However, since the splint may be used for either a right or left fractured member and preferably with the buckles disposed at the outer side of the member I provide a pivotal support for the buckles 3l as indi cated at 32.

The pad element I2 is designed so as to dispose the members I0 and I l laterally along each side of the leg in alignment With the main leg bone where the greatest need for support occurs.

The bar I3 is adjusted to be disposed outwardly a substantial distance beyond the foot and -is provided with a loop I3a through which a tensioning strap of a foot hitch generally indicated at 10 may be projected. The tensioning strap will placethe foot under tension to maintain the ,fractured ends of the bone separated during transportation of the injured person to a hospital or'the like and prevent further injury as would occur if the fractured bone. portions :were allowed `to contact each other.

For supporting `the leg out'of `Contact -with .the oor, I provide a U-shaped member .35 having its ends pivoted to cross bar I3 whereby the member 35 maybe quickly disposed in-a ,position at right angles t'o members fIIland II tosupport the leg. The member 35 may have a'iexible container .35a secured thereto serving asa storage space for the foot and hand'hitches and like articles. Pins I9 are adapted to lock member 35 either in a position vas indicated-in Figfl or generally parallel to rodsl I4'and I5 forstoring.

The vfoot hitchl'ID now-will'bedescribed and this is best illustrated in Figs. 18, 19 `and 20, the hitch vbeing designed so that the tension-ing pull is transmitted primarily to'the heelfsoI that there is no tendency to cut off circulation of-lblood in the lower part ofthe foot. The'hitch `comprises a pair of cross-.straps 36 and 3I.securecl together by stitching or the like, strap 136 being provided with a buckle 38 and a cooperating strap'39, and strap 3l-being provided with va -buckleMl` and a cooperating strap 4I.

Referring lto Figs. 19,and20 it will. be noted that the secured portions `of straps 3'I- and 36,

generally indicated at43are1placed; back of the heel and that part of strap `36y including strap 39, is passed `over Athe top yof thezfoot above the instep-and that part -of strap f3.7 -including the buckle 40 is passed around `the lopposite side of the foot and over the top of thefoot. above .the instep, the straps39 thenpassing beneath the instep to engage buckle 40. 'Ihestrap42will then be disposed in loop form outwardlyfrom the foot ,l and is grasped with one hand to exertcoutward tension on the Vfoot untilzthe strapflilwisV passedy through loop I3a and secured `Ito buckle 38. Buckle y38 and strap 4I yare passed :nsideof the loop buckled around the instep. It-will be noted `that the tension'is primarilyapplied back of the heel and although there may be; a slight ,tendency to exert pressure'on the instep' andthe ltopof the foot, this is not suflicient toaifect thelbloodgcirculation through the'lower part `of the foot to any appreciable degree. It Awill also-be noted that loop I3a is disposed generally centrallyalong fthe foot and that the pullexerted bythe tensioning 'strap 4I is exerted equallyf'onfieachesidefof .the foot so therezis no tendency'totwistlthe foot from a natural position.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and* 4,1 I1 have 'shown the splint as-adapted tosupport a fractured arm and in this ease the members IIJl and :II 'arefpreferably -adjustdfto anfequal lengtha-nd the pad in pins 25.

'element is disposedin a manner tobesuspencled generally parallel to members IU and I'I. Inthis case the pins 24 pivoted to ring-23 of, member l2, are rotated through 90` from the position illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 withv pins `2 5 ltelescoped within the upper ends'of tubes l'l and 'lliv and locked therewith by inserting pins vI 9 through perforations 45 in the tubesl and perforationsZ Thus, pad element l2 may be disposed under the arm pit with the members lil and ll extending laterally outwardly therefrom to overlie and' underlie the main bones of the arm in alignment with the shoulder joint. In other Words, support members I and Il are applied at a plane at right angles to the plane in which the fore-arm is bent at the elbow rather than in the plane of the bending of the forearm, since this is the plane in which the greatest support is needed. i

Straps 29 then encircle members Il) and Il and the arm and are buckled to secure the splint iirmly to the arm. Tension will be applied to the arm at thewrist by a hand hitch which will now be described.

The hand hitch 50 is illustrated in plan View in Fig. 15 and comprises a generally U-shaped element of exible material including arm portions 5l and 52 and a yoke portion 53. Se-

cured to the inner side of yoke portion 53 is .e

a buckle 55 and strap 5t secured to the arm portions 5l and 52v is' a rigid padded hand grip 51. A buckle 59 and a strap 60 are secured to the hand grip 5l. A strap 6l is secured to arm portions 5l and a buckle 62 to arm portion 52. A grip strap 58 is also secured to the hand grip.

The manner of securing the hitch to the wrist and hand will now be described in connection with Figs. 16 and 17. lThe hand is inserted beneath the hand grip 5'! palm up so that the palm may engage the hand ,grip and the yoke portion 53 encircles the wrist through linking strap 56 through buckle 55. The portion of strap 5i adjacent the wrist will engage the side of the hand and part of the back of the hand and be brought around angularly over the clenched lingers permitting stap 6l to encicle the under side of the wrist. Portion 52 adjacent the wrist is brought along the oppositeside of the hand and partially along the back of the hand and will criss-cross the portion 5l at the finger tips permitting buckle 62 to encircle the underside of the wrist whereby strap 5l may be looped through buckle- 52 so that the clenched hand is engaged by the crossed portions 5l and 52 while the wrist is engaged by the portion 53. The criss-crossed portions 5I and 52 are projected through the loop 58 which may be grasped to direct an outward pull on the hand or away from the shoulder to permit strap 555 to be projected through loop l3a and engage the buckle 59. Inasmuch as both the grip strap 58 and the tensioning strap and buckle are secured to the hand grip, the tendency will be to transmit strain through the fingersprimarily and then to the wrist. Also, since both` sides of the hand are supported by por- I tions 5l and 52, and the pull at all times is .directed outwardly, there is no tendency to twist the hand which might aggravate the injury.

Further, the pull isl directed from the mediank additional adjustment 7 required after approximately adjustment has been madeth'rough move- 'ment of tubes Il and vI8 relative torods i4 and l5. Further, the straps which secure the hitch 'to the; foot or hand are lsufficiently long so that a footor hand of any size can be veasily accommodated. I' contemplate that'ga registering device for 'indicatingfthe tension applied to Yan armor leg may be associated with-the tensioning straps Y or loop I3a.

The parts of the splint other than padding for element l2, the straps 29, and the hitches are preferably formed of aluminum alloy sufficiently pure to permit X-ray pictures to be taken at the hospital Without disturbing the emergency setting of the'injured member at the scene of the accident and prior to careful setting of the fractured bone portions. It is found that aluminum or aluminum alloy of this type are sufciently transparent for X-rays and cast only a slight shadow and which does not interfere in any appreciable degree with a proper study of the injured bone portion. The'splint is relatively compact; and no additional equipment is required other than the hitches described.

Although I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope oi the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Hitch means adapted kto be associated with a traction splint for applying tension to a fractured arm comprising a. generally U-shaped piece of flexible material, a rigid hand grip secured to the U-arms at points spaced from the U- yoke, a flexible link element for encircling the wrist secured to the U-yoke, a flexible grip'strap secured to the hand grip, a tensioning strap and buckle secured to the hand grip, a buckle secured to one of the U-arms at its outer end, and a strap secured to the other U-arm at its outer end.

2. Hitch means adapted to be associated with a traction splint for exerting tension on a fractured leg, comprising a pair of crossed strips of flexible material secured together generally centrally of the strips, a flexible grip secured to one end of eachoi the strips, a buckle secured` the opposite endjof the other strip.

3. Hitch means adapted to be associated with a traction splint for applying tension to a fractured extremity comprising an element of flexible material, a flexible grip strap secured atits ends to said element, a buckle secured to said element, and a strap portion extending from said element and adapted to be received in said buckle.

4. Hitch means adapted to be associated with a traction splint for applying tension to a fractured arm comprising a generally U-shaped piece of flexible material, a rigid hand grip secured to the U-arms at points spaced from theU-yoke, a exible link element for encircling the wrist secured to the U-yoke, flexible means and tensioning means secured to the hand grip, fastening means secured to one of the U`arms at its outer end adapted to be secured to the outer end of the other U-arm.

5. Hitch means adapted to be associated with a traction splint for exerting tension on a fractured leg, comprising a pair of crossed strips of flexible material secured together generally centraily of the strips, a exible grip secured to one end of each of the strips, fastening means secured to an end of one strip adapted to be secured to the otherend of said. strip, fastening means secured to the opposite end of the other strip adapted to secure the opposite end of said `10 rst strip. 

